VaynerMedia APAC appoints Kota Murakami as Country Manager in Japan
VaynerMedia has appointed Kota Murakami as its new Country Manager, Japan. Murakami assumes his role with immediate effect and reports to Tim Lindley, Managing Director of VaynerMedia Asia Pacific.
In his new role, Murakami will be responsible for shaping the footprint and business expansion for VaynerMedia in the Japanese market, with a focus on growing the agency’s portfolio and ensuring the delivery of business solutions that build clients’ brands while fuelling maximum business impact and cost advantage.
Murakami’s expertise lies in seamlessly integrating global innovation with local market insights, holding a proven track record of propelling business growth in the realm of advertising and digital media.
“Kota is a fantastic business leader. His unique accomplishments, ambition, and empathetic leadership style excited me from the first moment we met. He possesses amazing insight into the Japanese market, a sharp, global perspective, and a holistic marketing approach that will take us from strength to strength as we continue to bring media, creative, and analytics back together to drive real business impact for our clients,“ said Lindley. “He has an incredible passion for innovation, a track record for nurturing world-class talent, and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results. He’ll definitely be a catalyst for our growth in Japan and an exceptional business partner for our growing clientele there. I’m looking forward to building with him, and learning from him, as we continue to grow in Japan and across the Asia Pacific region.”
Recognised as a trusted advisor to leading brands worldwide, Murakami is also adept at steering clients and organisations to challenge industry norms while driving impactful changes.
“I’m really excited about joining the team during this period of growth. VaynerMedia is truly a one-of-a-kind agency; our talented people, empathetic culture and independent mindset allow us to continue our relentless pursuit of consumer attention. This allows us to help marketers deliver unwavering relevance through our modern approach to creative, media, and analytics – or all of the above as a full-service solution,” said Murakami. “I just know that this will be a game changer for brands in Japan to evolve their marketing, and succeed in the social-first era and beyond. I am looking forward to solidifying VaynerMedia as a key partner for businesses in Japan, enabling them to achieve relevance with consumers, and to meet their business goals for both the present and the future.”
Before joining VaynerMedia, Murakami held the position of Managing Director, Japan, at EssenceMediacom. He co-led the agency and played a pivotal role in winning key pitches for clients such as Uber and Tiffany & Co. during his tenure. He holds a remarkable track record of successful engagements including leading the Google account at Essence Japan, serving as Global Account Director at Tag in New York, and partnering with renowned brands like Uniqlo, Bayer, and DIAGEO.